Planning for Biodiversity: Authorities in State Land Use Laws

Date Released
December 2003

This report is the first to examine the land use planning enabling and growth management laws in each of the 50 states and identify provisions that may provide authority for land use regulators to consider biodiversity protection in making decisions. The report identifies a wide range of currently underutilized and potentially powerful authorities related to biodiversity protection, including planning requirements for natural resources, open space, wildlife habitat, and critical and sensitive areas.